Propeller adjusting mechanism



1944- I G. F. wlsLlczNus 2,

PROPELLER ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed July 23, 1942 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 550F176 I? Mshwnua IN ENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1944. s. F. WISLICE NUS PROPELLER ADJUSTING MECHANISM A .FiledJu ly 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV NT R ATTORNEY- and power rise under low or 'removed.

Patented Nov. 28, 1944 rnornLLEn ADJUSTING MECHANISM George F. Wislicenus', Millburn, N. J., asslgnor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application July 23,- 1942, Serial No. 452,025 Claims. -(Cl. 170-163) This invention relates to propellers or runners for axial flow pumps or turbines, to propellers for aeroplanes and ships and' the like, and more,par-

ticularly tosuch propellers or runners having adjustable vanes or blades,

An object of the present invention is the provision of an adjustable blade propeller for use in axial flow pumps for the purpose of controlling the head capacity curves of such pumps and to permit variations in operating conditions at a constant speed of rotation, avoiding undue head reduced flow conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable vane propeller or runner for turbines as employed in the Kaplan turbine, resulting in a broadening of. the efflciency curve at the turbine under varying operating condions;

The invention may further be utilized in the construction of propellers for aeroplanes where it is desired to adjust the pitch of the propeller to compensate for varying operating conditions, as for take-oil versus regular .ilight or diving conditions, and various altitudes.

The present invention. provides a propeller more I 'eillcient and practical than the known type of Figure 4 is a view of the hub shown in Figure 1 from the right side, with the cap B removed.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the method of operation of the present invention. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the propeller or runner illustrated comprises a hollow hub body I having a plurality of blades- 2 extending radially therefrom. The blades 2 are of any approved form, designed according to conditions under which the propeller or turbine is to operate, for giving the nfost efllcient performance. The blades 2 are so attached to the hub body I as to allow limited rotary movement with respect to said hub body for the. purposeof changing or adjusting their angle in relation to and to affect the flow' of, the medium in. which the propeller or runner is being rotated.

The blades 2 are formed upon a circular base portion 3, which latter seats in a bearing surface 4 formed in the hub body I. A cylindrical extension 5 extends inwardly toward the axis of the hub body I from the base 3 of the blade latter is rigidly attached to the hollow hub body such adjustable blade propellers since its construction is such as to negate backlash.

cams and similar elements having clearance and giving rise to mechanical wear are eliminated. The invention further enables the building of a compact, accurately adjustable propeller mechanism, positive in action and with a minimum of moving parts. r quired to translate the axial movement of the actuating mechanism. into the rotary movement necessary for adJusting the position of the vanes or blades.

with these and other objects in view, as mayappear from the accompanying specification, the

' invention consists of various features of construe.-

tion and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompany ing drawings, showing a propeller adjusting mechanism of the preferred form embodying'the invention, and the features forming the inven- 2. The extension 5 hasa reduced portion B'at its innermost end which cooperates with a bearing surface 1 formed in a bearing ring 8.. The

I by means of the bolts 9.

A drum I0 is firmly attached to and for rotation with the cylindrical extension 5 just inwardly of the base 3 of the blades 2, and has bearing surfaces II and I2 formed thereon coacting with bearing surfaces I 3 and I4 respectively formed in the hub body I to provide a fulcrum for rotative adjusting movement of the blades 2, and to take up the awkward pull of the vanes due to centrifugal forces as well as other forces acting on the vanes.

A flexible tensioned member [5-, either a wire rope, steel tape or the like, is wrapped around the drum I0 and has its ends attached to spiders I6 and II, respectively. The tensioned member 15 is prevented from sliding on the drum III .by

shaping the drum in a suitable manner as shown at II or by suitable clamps or other means; Such means, however, are not essential since the friction will generally prevent the flexible tensioned tion will be specifically pointed outin'the claims.

lnthe drawings" Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the hub of a propeller constructed in accordance with the present invention. I

' Figure 2 is across-section through thehub on theline z-z'ur Figure 1. I

ligiire'risfaviewof the hub shown in Figure ,1 from the left side, with the shaft section "Af member I! from sliding on the drum I 0.

The tensioned member: li'is held tensioned by means of the two spiders (between the two spiders) ll andxl'l.v The spidersIG and ii are fastened upon an axial stem I9, movable longitudinally of the axis of the hub I and extending through an axial bore in'the propelling shaft A. This stem I 0 may be mo'ved longituthe huh I and shaft A for ofthe blades 2.

dinally by any means (not shown) exteriorly' of controlling the-adtoward its outer end, and is spaced from the.

spider l6 by a tubular spacing ring 22 formed about the stem l8. This spider I1 is attached to the stem l9 by means of a threaded sleeve member '23 threaded into the spider body I1 and having an annular ring 24 on its innermost end which contacts the tubularspacer 22. -By adjusting this threaded member 23 the spider I! may be moved upon the stem IS with relation to the spider ii for adjusting the tension of all of the flexible members IS in unison, which members l5 are' attached at their opposite ends 25 and 26 tothe two spiders l6 and I1 respec-.

tively. r e a By moving the stem I9 longitudinally of the axis of the hub I, the two spiders l6 and ll will be moved simultaneously, andconsequently the flexible members l5 will also be moved. The members l5, being wrapped about the drums III, will, upon such movement, rotate .the drums and consequently rotate the blades 2, the 'di- ,rection of which rotation being governed by the axial direction in which the stem [9 is moved.

Individual adjustment .or tightening of the flexible members may be obtained by means of the threaded connections 21 by which the members ii are attached at their ends 25 to the spider Hi, compensating for stretching, .eto.,

of the members l5. Also, such individual adjustment of the tensioned members permits adjustments of the individual vanes, one by one, within small limits. Bolts 28 are employed for holding the bearing ring 8, the hub body I, and

shaft A in a fixed relative position.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

site sides of said drums, means for adjusting the axial positions of said spiders upon said stem with relation to each other for varying the ten-- sion upon said tensioned members, said tensioned members being attached to said spiders and so constructed and arranged that the tensioned members will be moved in unison with the'stem to rotate said drums.

3. In a propeller, a propelling shaft, a, hollow hub memberattached to said shaft, a plurality of propeller blades extending radially from and rotatably carried by said hub member, an extension on the inner'end of each of said rotatable blades and extending toward the axis of said hub, a drum on each of said extensions and rotatable therewith, tensioned members wrapped about each of said drums, a stem centrally located within said hub and moveable axially of the hub, spiders fixed upon said stem on opposite sides of said drums, means for adjusting the axial positions of said spiders upon said stem with relation to each other for increasing the tension upon said tensioned members, means at one end of each of said tensioned members for adjusting its connection to one of said spiders for varying the tension on each of said tensioned members individually, said tensioned members Y being attached to said spiders and so constructed and arranged that the tensioned members will be moved in unison with the stem and spiders to rotate said drums.

4. In a propeller pitch adjusting mechansm, a drive shaft, a hollow hub member carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a plurality of propeller blades carried by said hub member and I mounted to rotate in unison with the hub member about the axis of the shaft and to rotate independently of the hub member about their 1. In a propeller pitch adjusting mechanism,-

a propelling shaft, a hollow-hub member attached to said propelling shaft, a plurality of blades ex- 7 tending radially from and rotatably carried by said hub, an extension on the inner end of each of (said blades and extending into and toward the axis of said hub, a drum fixed on each of said extensions, a tensioned member wrapped about each of said drums, moveable means carried by said hub, said tensioned members connected tosaid moveable means andmoveable upon movement of said moveable means to impart rotary movement to said drums to vary the pitch of the propeller blades, means for individually adjusting the tension of said tensioned members, and means for adjusting the tension of all of said tensioned members in unison.

2. In a propeller, a propelling shaft, a hollow. hub member attached to said shaft, a "plurality of propeller blades extending radially from and rotatably carried by said hub member, an extension on the inner end of each of said rotatable blades and extending toward the axis of said hub, a drum on each of said extensions and ro- .tatable therewith, tensioned members wrapped about each of said drums, a stem centrally located within said hub and moveable axially of the hub, spiders fixed upon said stem on oppoown axes,;.a stem extending longitudinally into said hub and moveable relative to the hub, a pair of opposed spiders carried by said stem for unitary movement in the same direction, flexible members each having its ends connected to said spiders and being coiled intermediate its ends about one of said blade extensions whereby the 1 propeller blades will be rotated about its own axis upon movement of the spiders, and means adjustably connecting one of said spiders to said stem for adjusting thetension of all of said flexible members in unison.

5. In a propeller pitch adjusting mechanism, a

' drive shaft, a, hollow hub member carried by and rotatable with said shaft, a plurality of propeller.

blades carried by said hub member and mounted to rotate in unison with the hub member about the axis-of the shaft and to rotate independently of the hub member about their own axes, a stem extending longitudinally into said hub and moveable relative to the hub, a pair of opposed spiders carried by. said stem-for unitary movement in the same direction, flexible members each having its' ends connected to said spiders and being coiled intermediate its ends about one of said blade extensions whereby the propeller blades will be rotated about its own axis upon movement of the spiders, means adjustably connecting one of said spiders-to said stem for adjusting the tension of all of said flexible members in unison, and means adjustably connecting the ends of said tension members. tothe other spider for permitting individual adjustment of the tension of the flexible members.

, GEORGE F'. wIsmoEnUs' 

